sahasra lingarchanashambhoshankara.com/pdf/shasralingarchanapreparation...w w w . s h a m b h o s h...

w w w . s h a m b h o s h a n k a r a . c o m

3rd Nov 2013 Preview Edition

Sahasra Lingarchana Preparation Booklet

Bodapati, Chandra Sekhar

Contacts: 1268 Tioga Drive

Irving, TX – 75063 USA

[email protected]

[email protected] Home Phone: 214-281-8840

www.shambhoshankara.com

“Om Sri Uma Pardhiveswara SwaminE Namaha”

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.shambhoshankara.com/



Sahasra Lingarchana Preparation Booklet Page: 1




Table of Contents 1. Introduction

a. About

b. Kailasa prastharam

c. Manah Sankalpam

d. The program

e. FAQs

2. Srushti

a. Preparation

b. Ganapathi puja

c. Bhoomi puja

d. Making Mruthika lingas

e. Alankaram

3. Sthiti

a. Preparation

b. Arranging in Kailasa prastharam

c. Alankaram

4. Archana

a. Preparation

b. Ganapathi puja

c. Mahanyasam

d. Shodasavarana puja

5. Abhishekam

a. Preparation

b. Ekadasavara Rudra Abhishekam

c. Shantivara Abhishekam

d. Cleanup

e. Alankaram

f. Punah puja

g. Maha Nivedyam

h. Mantra pushpam

6. Homam

a. Preparation

b. Shatpatram

c. Rudra Homam

d. Jayadi Homam

e. Poornahuti

f. Nivedyam

g. Teertham & Mahaprasadam

7. Anandam

a. Preparation




b. Bhajans and Nama Sankeertanam

c. Haarati

d. Nivedyam

e. Udvasanam

8. Layam

a. Preparation

b. Visarjanam

9. Annexures

A. Sahasralingarchana Kailasa Prastharam Layout document

B. Sivalingam mold design document

C. Items list for “Making Mruthika Lingas”

D. Items list for Kailasa Prastharam arrangement document

E. Items list for “Ganapathi Puja”

F. Items list for “Sahasralingarchana”

G. Items list for “Ekadasavara Rudrabhishekam”

H. Items list for “Rudra Homam”

I. SahasraLingarchana Puja Kalpam step by step guide

J. Abhishekam participants signup template document

K. Members invitation list template document

L. “Namashembhavecha” mantram

M. Lord Siva Photos

N. Invitation templates document

O. Souvenir template document

P. Event memories photos and videos DVD covers and labels template document

Q. Additional Resources: Photos, Scriptures and Guides

R. Radio Speech on Sahasra Lingarchana

S. Contact References




a. About Sahasra Lingarchana is a unique vedic ritual to worship lord Siva in the name of “Uma Pardhiveswara

Swamy”. It is performed by making 1,116 mruthika siva lingas also called as Pardhiva lingas made out of

well prepared and sanctified clay. All these siva lingas are arranged in the form of Kailasa prastharam

which is a depiction of Siva Kailasam with 16 avaranas and 1,116 Rudra swaroopas. Siva Shakti is invoked

into each Siva lingam thru vedic mantras during Shodasa Aavarana puja and worshiped with great

devotion and bhakti to seek the blessings of Sri Uma Pardhiveswara Swamy for health, wealth,

prosperity, bliss and ultimate mukthi.

b. Kailasa prastharam According to our Siva Maha Puranam, it is said that our lord Siva and goddess Parvathi reside in Kailasam

which is surrounded by 16 aavaranas. Each avarana contains a set of Rudra swaroopa devata ganas.

There is a well-defined name for each aavarana and the respective devata ganas in the Sahasra

Lingarchana kalpam as shown below. Refer to Annexure A: Sahasralingarchana Kailasa Prastharam

Layout document.




c. Manah Sankalpam All those who wanted to perform this great ritual Sahasra Lingarchana need to have strong desire, will

power and manah sankalpam to perform or participate in this. You may be able to wish, think, plan,

organize and spend lot of time and money. But it will happen only thru his blessings. So, we need strong

manah sankalpam or desire to perform this puja and appeal to him well for his blessings to shower on

you to be able to do it successfully.

Once decided, on an auspicious day pack 3 cups of rice and some small amount of money in a white

cloth and place it in front of Lord Ganapathy in your home. Offer prayers to him with devotion to bless

you with your wishes to come true with no hurdles and complete the Sahasra Lingarchana puja

successfully. We need to cook Vundrallu / Kudumulu for Ganapathy on the Srushti day with this rice.

d. The program The main component in Sahasra Lingarchana is to make 1,116 mruthika Siva lingas. To make these many

Siva Lingas out of clay we need about 6 to 8 hours. As this is a big task, we can make these few days or

one week in advance with a group of devotees. Once they are dried up same day or after few days, we

can do alankaram by putting vibhudi namam and kumkuma tilakam. When 1,116 Siva lingas are ready,

arranging in Kailasa prastharam take about 2-3 hours. After everything is made ready, the Sahasra

Lingarchana program along with homam takes about 10 hours. Everybody should prepare well with

physical and mental ability to devotedly focus on the ritual well.

Here are the main program details and rough time estimates.

1. Ganapathy puja (30 min)

2. Sankalpam (30 min)

3. Mahanyasam (1.5 hrs)

4. Sahasra Lingarchana (1.5 hrs)

5. Ekadasavara Rudra Abhishekam (3.5 hrs)

6. Rudra Homam (2 hrs)

Refer to Annexure K: Members invitation list template document.

Refer to Annexure N: Invitation templates document.

Refer to Annexure R: Radio Speech on Sahasra Lingarchana.

e. FAQs

i. Who can do? Unto me, worshiping God is everybody’s fundamental right. Lord Siva is everybody’s own. Anyone

with bhakti and devotion can perform this puja. Whoever wishes to do this must remember it needs




some self-discipline and preserve the sanctity of this puja by observing pleasant environment,

devotional and religiously inclined devotees group (satsangam), traditional attires, sanctified

vegetarian foods and drinks etc.

For performing Rudra Homam, it’s defined in vedas and scriptures that only those with a culture of

wearing Yagnopaveetam / Janoi can do it. Others also can do it with the assistance of pundit for

offering ahutis. Everyone can certainly be part of the Homam and reap all the benefits thru

participating, contributing, and helping, listening, watching and even breathing the sanctified air in

the premises depending on your interest.

ii. When can we do this? Any time you wish to perform Sahasra Lingarchana is always a good time as he neither likes nor

dislikes a particular day although many people tend to do it on auspicious days in the month of

Karthikam.

iii. How is it done in India? Generally, in India Sahasra Lingarchana is performed by preparing the mruthika siva lingams in a

very small grape size as Baana lingams with a group of pundits on the same day of the puja while

chanting Mahanyasam and Rudra parayanam in an hour or 2 hours span. We arrange them on a

small wooden plank in Kailasa prastharam on a wet towel and place the plank in slanting position

leaning into a tumbler. We perform Sahasra Lingarchana and Ekadasavara Rudra Abhishekam to the

Sahasra Lingas on the wooden plank. All the holy water and abhisheka teerdha jalam will be

collected into the tumbler which is given to people as teerdham later. Rudra homam will be

performed after that in the evening. We all should recognize it’s never a one man show and we get

all the help and support needed in India due to availability of many pundits.

iv. How do we do it abroad? To give the opportunity to participate and enjoy SivaAnandam all together under one roof, all the

interested devotees make mruthika lingams by carving out of hand or by using small 2-piece mold in

an evenly shape and size while chanting “Om Namah Sivaaya” panchakshari nama mantram, bhajans

or rudra parayanam together. Because all the devotees take their own time, it’s suggested to make

these muruthika lingams few days in advance and decorate them with vibhudi and kumkuma

tilakam.

Next, to give opportunity to all the interested devotees to sit around the Kailasa prastharam and do

the Sahasra Lingarchana, we arrange the mruthika lingams on a bigger size wooden plank.

As you know most of the houses in abroad have carpet or wooden floors. To be safe from water

damages and fire accidents, we arrange multiple sets of deep dish trays made of aluminum or steel

as needed around the Kailasa prastharam. We put separate Siva lingams or Saligramas in each tray

to perform the abhishekam by each devote family or group. This gives opportunity to perform

abhishekam to all those attended the program.




Finally, Rudra Homam will be performed in a safe way on tiled area by host or by pundits on behalf

of host.

v. Why is it done this way in abroad? Now-a-days, as you know due to various businesses, trades, family and employment reasons we

have devotees spread across the world. We are now a global family with many friends and relatives

from various cultural, variant religious practices and family backgrounds. In order to be able to

perform this Sahasra lingarchana or any puja for that matter as a group and enjoy SivaAnandam all

together under one roof, we certainly need some accommodations. Instead of not doing it, it’s

always good to do in an acceptable way to accommodate all people from various castes, creed, sex

and age groups to worship Lord Siva and enjoy SivaAnandam.

Remember Bhakti and devotion always plays a pivotal role in all our prayers at all times. It is well

said and I too believe in that any puja performed as a group gives more vibration and good results to

all the participants and the society. Group participation will also give good understanding and

opportunity to all of us and our children to learn more and more about our Indian culture, religious

beliefs and practices. They can adopt and carry it forward to future generations although being

abroad.




a. Preparation Srushti describes the part of creating Mruthika Siva Lingams. Few days in advance, we need to collect

fine clay preferably black soil and remove any stones, wood picks and grass from it. Using a hammer or

any other tool, break lumps into fine grain to easily mix with water and other material later. It is

recommended to collect adequate quantity of this fine soil well prepared in advance. All the participants

attending to make Siva Lingams must come after full shower from head to toe, carefully dressed to work

with clay and apply bhasmam and tilakam on fore head. Select a right place preferably car garage or

back yard where you can comfortably sit, work, clean easily and does not spoil carpets / floors to make

these Siva Lingams.

IMPORTANT: It is recommended to have 2 or 3 dedicated and responsible people to provide safety

watching and emergency solution services during the entire event. These services are very important

and include but not limited to watching kids in and outside, control of food and drinks movement, water

spills, wet floors, observing fire safety during homam and at deepa alankaram, refueling the deepams,

proper ventilation and air conditioning, safety in kitchens, safety precautions with electric wires, flash

lights and cameras etc. All devotees attending must be notified to observe extra safety precautions with

their attire when dealing with fire involved activities as most of the people wear silk clothing.

b. Ganapathi puja The preparation day starts with Ganapathi puja and Vundrallu / Kudumulu nivedyam with the rice

packed during Manah Sankalpam. Refer to Annexure E: Items list for “Ganapathi Puja”. Offer prayers to

Lord Ganapathi to help you at all times in successfully performing the Sahasra Lingarchana and invite

him to be part of the puja.

Vundrallu / Kudumulu nivedyam




c. Bhoomi puja The fine grain clay is to be sanctified with Bhoosuktam and sprinkle a pinch of turmeric and kumkum

from Ganapathy puja. Mix the clay with adequate quantity of water and thoroughly mix it to turn it into

soft wet clay like chapatti floor. Let all the devotees offer their prayers and small pinches of each of the

list of materials described in Annexure C: Items list for “Making Mruthika Lingas” into the clay mixture

while chanting “Om Sri Uma Pardhiveswara SwaminE Namaha” mantram. I recommend mixing

reasonably big amount of cow Ghee / Sesame oil to the clay mixture to retain the softness.

d. Making Mruthika lingas Once the clay preparation is thoroughly mixed and made ready, all the devotees group can start making

Siva Lingams by hand carving them to a reasonably consistent unique small shape and size. If you have

20 people hand carving them at reasonably 5-10 min per siva lingam, you’ll be done in 10 hours roughly.

If hand carving them is time consuming, you can take the help of molds to make these Mruthika lingas

for consistent shape, size and speed. Please refer to Annexure B: Sivalingam mold design document on

how to make a 2-piece latex rubber mold and other methods. If you have at least 20 molds and 20

people making them you should be done in 4 hours roughly.

We need 1,116 Mruthika lingas for puja. But anticipating some discards due to breakages and cracks, it’s

ideal to make 1300. Additionally, one can hand carve Nandi the bull to place in front of the Maha Lingam

and 4 comparatively bigger sized siva lingams for placing at Ganga, Parvathi, Dakshina moorthy and

Chandra kala’s place in 1,116 Sahasra Linga Kailasa Prastharam. Ensure to grade them for good quality

with neat look and feel while making to avoid more discards down the line. Collect and place all the

perfected Siva lingams into trays or cardboard planks in 10 X 10 matrix sets to leave them untouched to

get them dried up for few days.

Enjoy making Siva lingas while chanting Rudram, “Om Namah Sivaya”, “Om Sri Uma Pardhiveswara

SwaminE Namaha” mantram, singing bhajans and listening to Siva Maha Puranam pravachanam etc. Do

not entertain any food in the making area to maintain sanctity of the work being done. People leaving

for food, drinks and nature calls should wash their hands and feet or take baths as appropriate before

resuming their Siva Lingam making work. No need to water them after they are made well to avoid

cracks. Finally upon completing the making of Siva Lingams, the devotees can offer Aarati and prayers

before they leave for the day.

e. Alankaram Once the Siva Lingams are ready, carefully check each Siva Lingam for good quality and apply wet

vibhudi bhasmam and wet kumkuma tilakam as alankaram on both sides of the Siva Lingam while

holding the Soma Sutram horizontally. We apply bhasmam and tilakam on both sides of the Siva Lingam

as alankaram can be seen well by all the devotees sitting around the big Kailasa prasharam layout.




a. Preparation The day before to the Sahasra Lingarchana, a selected small group of devotees assemble at event

celebration place after taking full bath, neatly dressed and applying vibhudi and kumkuma tilakam in

preparation to arrange the mruthika siva lingams in Kailasa prastharam. Verify the list of items and move

all the siva lingams and items close to the puja room. Please refer to Annexure D: Items list for Kailasa

Prastharam arrangement document.

Plan your team as Helpers to move stuff around and assist, Placers to place siva lingams in an organized

way and Quality to monitor the alignments, verify the correct counts, look and feel aspects. Measure the

base width and base height of the siva lingam made. Calculate the size the kailasa prastharam as 65

times horizontal base width and 65 times vertical base width of the lingam to get an estimate of the

area of your layout. Add additional 2 inches extra on all sides on the plank for error corrections. This

should help you to find the size of cloth and plank needed.

b. Arranging in Kailasa prastharam Identify the correct directions in the room. Place the right sized wooden planks or card boards on the

table or ground as planned each side facing the correct East for top, South, West for bottom and North

directions. Review the kailasa prastharam layout document and visualize how the plank needs to be

placed and how the Sahasra Lingarchana Kilasa prastharam will be arranged in your premises

beforehand. The host or yajaman and family should be sitting at the bottom of the kailasa prastharam

West side and facing East. Leave adequate space of around 3 or 4 feet for accommodating all other

devotees to sit around the layout in all directions with puja items plate etc. Maintain strict directions to

arrange the layout as depicted in the picture while hosts and devotees can shift their places to sit

around as per their conveniences and premises restrictions.

After placing the plank on the floor, wrap it with flat sheet of white cloth and fold back excess cloth

under the bottom of the plank. While all devotees chanting ganapathi mantram, hosts should apply wet

turmeric and tilakam to the cloth in the center and all 8 directions. The Placers team should start placing

the mruthika siva lingams from the center in all directions in a planned way so that you do not need do

revisit to move them in the center. Helper’s team help in supplying the siva lingams and Quality team

ensure alignments, beautification, cleanliness and counts. Ideally the central Maha Siva Lingam should

be placed well first, count them and then arrange all avaranas around it. Once perfected, the

Tandameswaras should be placed around as a boundary and complete with outer avaranas layout. At

the end double check the counts in each avarana and ensure people do not touch or add any more siva

lingams later. Remember to place the special sivalingams and Nandeeswara made as and when needed.




c. Alankaram Finally, apart from the kailasa prastharam, a separate table needs to be arranged for Ganapathi puja and

Kalasa sthapana close to the premises. Place a Ganapathi moorthi, a beetel leaf with turmeric Ganapathi

and a picture frame of lord Siva Parvathi as available on that kalasa table. Refer to Annexure M: Lord

Siva Photos. Take a round bottom vessel made of silver, copper etc. as poorna kalasa kumbham. Fill

3/4ths with water and drop some copper coins, gandham (sandal wood powder), akshatas and flowers

into it. Take a coconut with turmeric and kumkuma tilakam applied. Wrap it with a cloth and place on

the top of vessel as kalasam with beetel or mango leaves at the bottom of the coconut. Complete the

garlands and other decorations to Maha Siva Lingam on Kailasa prastharam and other kalasa table

deities. Please make all arrangements with deepams, bottom plates, twigs and ghee or oil, dhoop sticks

placed, match box as needed. Place all the puja items as per the given lists in separate boxes ready to

access as per your convenience. Get a plate with good amount of wet vibhudi and kumkuma tilakam

cups and place it at the entrance door on a table for all the devotees to apply before they enter into the

premises. Ensure your preparations are in a ready to start puja state with water and puja glasses and

plates ready.




Bounce house to entertain kids in back yard

Puja preparations




a. Preparation This is really the day of Sahasra Lingarchana puja. Invite all the participants to be in traditional attire at

the premises by 5:00am in the morning after taking full head to toe shower. Offer wet vibhudi and

kumkuma tilakam to all at the entrance to apply on their fore head. Whoever has yagnopaveeta

sampradayam must complete Sandyavandanam and other nitya karmanusthanams before the puja

begins. Priest on site can also help those people if need be, to perform Sandhyavandanam which starts

sharp at 5:00am. Meanwhile double check all the puja items in boxes at the puja place, keep them

handy and get ready for puja by 5:30am. All participants must sit with their puja plate around the kailasa

prastharam with family accommodating all the participants as close as possible leaving some space

without touching the kailasa prastharam.

b. Ganapathi puja The priests who are attending to perform the puja are always honored with great respect and devotion

and called as “Brahma” throughout the day. Host’s Gruha Lakshmi or devotees will inaugurate the event

by lighting all the oil or ghee deepams. Ganapathi puja and kalisa puja will be performed praying to

remove all obstacles in our life and the event. Sankalpam will be chanted with all the names and

gotrams of the participants in this process. Refer to Annexure E: Items list for “Ganapathi Puja”.

c. Mahanyasam “Naa Rudro Rudramarchayeeth” means one should not worship Shiva without realizing that he is Rudra

himself. Mahanyasam is the process of cleansing the environment, premises, our body parts, mind etc.

and invoke Rudra devathas on all parts of our body to symbolize and make one realize that we are

swayam Rudra himself before we worship lord Siva in the form of Uma Pardhiveswara Swamy.

Mahanyasam gives total body protection, good state of mind and health in our life. Participants should

observe and follow Brahma and other Ruthviks to touch and clean their body with mantram as they

perform. Please circulate “Namashambhavecha” Mantram to all devotees to chant during Dasanga

rowdreekaranam and Shodasanga rowdreekaranam. Refer to Annexure L: "Namashembhavecha”

mantram. Upon completing mahanyasam, everyone should understand, realize, believe, feel and live in

the state of “Aham Brahmasmi” to enjoy Siva Anandam.

d. Shodasavarana puja Refer to Annexure F: Items list for “Sahasralingarchana”.




Lord Siva and goddess Parvathi reside in Kailasam which is surrounded by many Rudra swaroopa devata

ganas in 16 aavaranas. Shodasa Avarana puja is the process of invoking Rudra swaroopa devata shakti in

all 1,116 mruthika sivalingas arranged in kailasa prastharam with 16 avaranas by each ones name and

respective mantras. We invite them into the kailasa prastharam with all shodasa upacharams to worship

them. Have copies of the kailasa prastharam layout document handy and follow the Brahma to identify,

offer the fruits and flowers, and perform puja at each specified devatha murthy in each avarana when

directed. To perform Shodasavarana puja please refer to Annexure I: SahasraLingarchana Puja Kalpam

step by step guide.

Once this is complete, you’ll have 1,116 Rudra devata swaroopams with Maha Linga swaroopa Uma

Pardhiveswara swamy in the kailasa prastharam at your house. This becomes the pivotal point of the

entire universal energy and universal consciousness. Imagine the great opportunity of every one

participating in such event to receive the universal energy as blessings. The mahanyasam is the process

to tune your mind and body to absorb this high frequency universal energy present in Kailasa

Prastharam which is invoked thru vibrant vedic beejakshra mantras during prana prathistha. So, it’s very

important to be part of such event and participate with great bhakti and devotion.




a. Preparation Once the Shodasavarana puja is complete, all the participants will move away and make arrangements

for placing the trays around the Kailasa prastharam with Siva Lingams or saligramas to perform

abhishekam. Depending on the number of individuals or families who signed up for performing

abhishekam, arrange required number of trays with a Siva Lingam in it. Let there be one separate tray

with Siva Lingam for host to perform abhishekam for all 11 rudrams. We perform Ekadasavara Rudra

Abhishekam which means the rudram will be chanted 11 times. So, using one tray 11 families can

perform abhishekam as one family per one rudram one after the other. In case you have 50 registrants,

having 4 trays will accommodate 4 X 11 = 44 and by adjusting 6 here and there as multiple families per

tray will help all 50 to participate. Please refer to Annexure J: Abhishekam participants signup template

document. Have a big tumbler or container ready to collect abhisheka teerdham from all plates

periodically to avoid spills from each tray. Refer to Annexure G: Items list for “Ekadasavara

Rudrabhishekam”.

When needed, people participating in puja including hosts, Brahma and Ruthviks can take small quantity

of milk, butter milk, fruits or fruit juice just enough to concentrate on puja rather than growling

stomach and return to puja premises after washing hands and feet.

Sivalingam and Salagramam Abhishekam box and tray arrangement

b. Ekadasavara Rudra Abhishekam Rudra Namakam and Chamakam are chanted while performing Rudra abhishekam to lord Siva. Chamaka

patham has 11 anuvakams or paragraphs. Chanting complete Rudra Namakam once and chanting 1st

Chamaka anuvakam followed by shodasopachara puja and harathi completes 1st varabhishekam.

Likewise repeating this for all 11 anuvakams of Chamakam is said to be Ekadasavara Rudra Abhishekam.




This process takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. So, it’s good and recommended to have as many Rudram

chanters as we can who chant with good swaram (rhythmic vedic notes) to produce healthy and positive

vibrations. There is a well-defined set of items to be used signifying the results we get during Rudra

abhishekam.

Always perform abhishekam with one item at a time followed by abhishekam with water for each of the

items you have. Remember to involve completely with bhakti and shradha as they are very important

while doing any puja. Chant “Om Namah Sivaya” in mind for each offering you give. Perform

abhishekam with the items you have while Namakam is being chanted and stop everything and just

offer namaskarams with devotion while Chamakam is being chanted as it’s the phalasruthi part.

Occasionally during each rudram, host or Brahma will perform abhishekam to the 1,116 mruthika

lingams in Kailasa Prastharam by gently sprinkling Ganga water using beetal leaf or flower.

One group of people will plan and arrange juice trays equal to twice the number of abhishekam trays

with small quantities of abhishekam juice items in glasses to alternatively reuse for each Rudram. One

organizer should plan and manage to invite the registrants per each Rudram to take one juice tray and

get to their respective allotted abhishekam tray as per the planned signup sheet to avoid time wastage.

Rudram Chanters chanting rudram during Abhishekam

c. Shantivara Abhishekam Shantivarabhishekam is performed while chanting Sri sooktam, Purusha sooktam and Manyu sooktam.

Only water from poorna kalisa kumbham needs to be offered in all abhishekam trays during this

Shantivarabhishekam. This concludes abhishekam part and proceed to Cleanup and Alankaram.

While deities get ready for punah puja with cleanup and alankaram, all the Ruthviks and rudram

chanters together continue to chant Dasashanti and Ghoshashanti mantras.




d. Cleanup Abhisheka teerdham from all trays should be emptied into the container carefully. The siva lingams and

saligramas from all trays are collected into a tray and washed with lemon juice, rinsed with hot water

and wiped with paper towel. One group of volunteers cleanup the premises around Kailasa prastharam

and make arrangements with a table for placing all the siva lingams and saligramas for Alankaram and

Punah puja. Preferably, as the poorna kalasa kumbham is removed from Ganapathy puja table, that’s

the best place to reuse.

e. Alankaram Decorate all the cleaned up siva lingams and saligramas used for Abhishekam with sandal wood paste

and kumkuma tilakam. Place them in a new tray decorated with flowers, Rangoli Flower (muggu) drawn

with rice floor, kumkum and turmeric. Never touch or remove or displace any of 1,116 sivalingams in

Kailasa Prastharam.

f. Punah puja Brahma will perform punah puja with shodasopacharams to all the deities using Rudra Trishati.

A small group of volunteers and Ruthviks should move to Homam area to make arrangements like

preparing ghee by heating up, getting cooked rice ready in a bowl, readying puja patras with water,

opening Homam items packets and putting them in bowls, opening doors, windows and muting fire

alarms etc.

Ruthviks in this group should start Arani Madhanam program to prepare fire while chanting Rudram.

Once fire is produced, ensure to safe guard it in a special bowl by adding small amounts of camphor,

twigs and dry coconut pieces.

g. Maha Nivedyam All food, fruits and sweets collected along with water should be offered as Maha Nivedyam. Darbaru

seva follows with a song from devotees, chatur veda mantras and Ghana patham by Brahma and

Ruthviks.

h. Mantra pushpam Distribute flowers to all the devotees to hold and offer their prayers while mantra pushpam is chanted.

Everyone offers their flowers of prayers to lord Siva and Brahma concludes the Sahasra Lingarchana puja

with Harati.




a. Preparation Refer to Annexure H: Items list for “Rudra Homam”. By this time, it should be little late afternoon. To

accommodate kids, adults with special needs and elderly devotees, it is suggested to move the maha

prasadam food to the designated dining area to enjoy. Maha prasadam place near puja should be

cleaned with wet towel after uttaraposana. People after taking lunch should not participate in

performing Homam offering havissu in fire but can just sit aside, watch, pray and be part of the viewers.

People returning after eating lunch, must wash their hands and feet before returning to puja premises.

Strictly no food should be served or allowed in the puja or homam area to maintain sanctity.

When needed, people participating in Homam including hosts, Brahma and Ruthviks can take small

quantity of milk, butter milk, fruits or fruit juice just enough to concentrate on puja rather than growling

stomach and return to puja premises after washing hands and feet.

Verify all the preparations, items check list etc. for Homam before we start. Also, ensure the fire alarms

are silenced, enough ventilation is provided for smoke to go out by opening doors and windows. It is

strictly recommended to keep a bucket of water with a mug or a direct hose ready to use in case of any

emergency. Please have a dedicated person who will always ensure that the fire is active and control it

while watching for safety and be vigilant to avoid any fire related accidents. Alert the participants to

watch out their silk clothing and be extra cautious during Homam.

b. Shatpatram As part of Sahasra Lingarchana, Rudra Homam is performed using Shatpatram procedure using 6

resources namely Srukku, Sruvam, Aadyam, Annam, Dalam and Dhanyam namely 6 patralu or vessels.

c. Rudra Homam Rudra Homam will be performed by reciting Namakam with swahakaram, reciting complete Chamakam

once with one swahakaram followed by Purusha sooktam while offering Adyam (Ghee) by yajaman and

other items by others.

d. Jayadi Homam Jayadi homam and Prayaschitta homam is performed next.




e. Poornahuti Poornahuti is the process of offering poorna phalam dried coconut along with many herbs, seeds, nava

ratna and nava dhanyam in a red silk cloth while pouring ghee continuously as dhara using vasoddhara

and chanting Chamakam mantrams.

f. Nivedyam Fresh cup of ghee is offered to Lord Agni deva as nivedyam and a cup of curd rice is offered as nivedyam

for people to take as prasadam to devotees later. Yagneswara udvasana will follow next and this

concludes the Rudra Homam program.

g. Teertham & Mahaprasadam At the end, aseervachanam is done to Hosts family and everybody is offered abhishekam teertham and

prasadam. During this process everybody offers their dakshina to guru brahma and take blessings from

them for good health, wealth and prosperity.

Brahma will perform udvasana to the Uma Pardhiveswara Swamy in Kailasa prastharam to proceed

further.

Mahaprasadam can be served to priests in private and rest of the devotees shall follow to group lunch.




a. Preparation After taking lunch and having a quick break, in the evening do a quick cleanup and make arrangements

to sit around Kilasa Prastharam. People can take pictures and video while preserving the sanctity of the

premises when needed without disturbing the event. You can distribute the photos to all and enjoy Siva

Anandam with these memorable moments at all times.

b. Bhajans and Nama Sankeertanam Couple of hours before sunset all the devotees can assemble back around Kilasa Prastharam to sing

bhajans and nama sankeertanam after washing hands and legs. Devotees can sing solo songs, group

bhajans, chant Vishnu Sahasra Namam, Lalitha Sahasra Namam etc. at your convenience.

c. Haarati At end give haarati and offer some fruits as nivedyam.

d. Nivedyam Distribute fruits prasadam to all devotees after Nivedyam.

e. Udvasanam Brahma can perform udvasanam to all the deities at end concluding the program and safely relocating

the lit deepams safely to a puja place.




a. Preparation Gently please collect all the 1,116 mruthika siva lingams, flowers etc. from Kailasam layout and place

them in a bag, blanket or tumbler. Please collect all the left over puja akshatas from the Kailasa

prastharam in this process, separate them into a bowl by dusting them until you get just the akshatas

and offer them to all devotees to preserve and use during birthdays and holy occasions in their home to

bless children, themselves and others throughout the year. A packet of small size “zip lock” covers will

be handy here for people to take them home. Please offer these akshatas, fruits, flowers with a souvenir

to the devotees before they leave to home. Please refer to Annexure O: Souvenir template document.

b. Visarjanam Leave all the 1,116 mruthika siva lingams, flowers etc. in nearby lake, pond, river or sea waters while

offering your prayers. Never let people take any of these Siva Lingams to their home as they may be

spoiled or abused otherwise unknowingly. Offer the Kailasa prastharam blanket to yajaman as a gift

which can be used as a holy recovery blanket during sick times. Yadbhavam tathbhavathi

Note: All this guidance is written with the personal experience from doing Sahasra Lingarchana in USA

from many years, accommodating the circumstances, prevailing conditions, diverse participants and

preserving the sanctity of the vedic ritual. If you find any mistakes, all of them are solely mine and I beg

your pardon at all times. I’ll be glad to accept and accommodate any genuine corrections you may have

for me. Refer to Annexure S: Contact References.

Sarvejana Sukhinobhavanthu

Samastha Sanmagalanisanthu

Sri Uma Pardhiveswara Swami karuna kataksha siddhirastu

Om Shanthi Shanthi Shantihi




A. Sahasralingarchana Kailasa Prastharam Layout document

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/Documents/Sahasralingarchana%20Layout%20in%20English.pdf http://www.shambhoshankara.com/DownloadDocs.aspx

Note: Please download ShasralingarchanaAnnexures.pdf for printable version

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/Documents/Sahasralingarchana%20Layout%20in%20English.pdfhttp://www.shambhoshankara.com/DownloadDocs.aspx




B. Sivalingam mold design document

Type 1: http://www.alumilite.com/ProdDetail.cfm?Category=Silicone Rubber&Name=QuickSet Type 2: http://www.shambhoshankara.com/Documents/SivalingamMoldDesign.pdf Type 3: Just hand carve a siva lingam using clay as bana lingam or sthoola lingam

Bana lingam (oval shape) Sthoola lingam (pillar shape)

Hand carved Hand carved special siva lingams

Siva Lingam made from mold (Type 1)

http://www.alumilite.com/ProdDetail.cfm?Category=Silicone%20Rubber&Name=QuickSethttp://www.shambhoshankara.com/Documents/SivalingamMoldDesign.pdf




C. Items list for “Making Mruthika Lingas”

Bhoomi puja / Mruthika Lingams making items list Sri Rama

Item Quantity

1 Turmeric / Haldi 100g

2 Kumkuma 100g

3 Fine ground clay (preferably black clay)

Enough for making 1500 siva

lingams

4 Sri Gandham (Camphor + Sandal wood powder mixture) 100g

5 Kasturi 50g

6 Sugar 100g

7 Rice flour 100g

8 Cow Milk Ghee 250g

9 Sesame oil 500g

10 Red Sandal wood powder 100g

11 Fine Iron powder 10g

12 White sesame seeds (Til) 100g

13 Mercury (Indian glass Thermometer) PreCaution: Remove any gold rings on your hands when you touch Mercury. Don’t touch to be safe :D 1 drop

14 Vibhudi / Bhasmam 250g

15 Ganapathi prasadam (Undrallu / Kudumulu) dozen

16 Molds to make siva lingams if needed dozen

17 Sesame oil 2 cups

18 Flossing sharp edged picks to fine tune the siva lingams dozen

19 Big aluminium trays / card boards to move and arrange siva lingams dozen

20 Water / water hose to clean up at the end Few buckets




D. Items list for Kailasa Prastharam arrangement document

Items for Kailasa Prastharam arrangement day Item Quantity

1 Kailasa Prastharam layout document copies 6

2 Straight stick / ruler for alignements 1

3 10 ft Measuring tape 1

4 White blanket cloth to place siva lingams in Kailasa prastharam. (preferably 400 thread count) 1

5 Card boards of planned mandapam size (8ft x 4ft) 2




E. Items list for “Ganapathi Puja”

Ganapathi Puja items list Sri Rama

Item Quantity

1 Turmeric / Haldi 100gm

2 Kumkuma 50gm

3 Fruits dozen

4 Flowers (never peel petals) small plate

5 Small wet Turmeric Ganapathi 1

6 Betel / Paan Leaves 6

7 Nut powder 50gm

8 Money Coins 6

9 Sandal wood powder 50gm

10 Turmeric Akshatalu small cup

11 Puja plate, water vessel, spoon 2 sets

12 Coconuts with water 2

13 Yagnopaveetam / Janoi 1

14 New Towel / Dhothi + Uttareeyam 1

15 Cow Milk 1/2 cup

16 Cow Milk Curd / Yogurt 1/2 cup

17 Sugar 1/2 cup

18 Honey 100gm

19 Cow Milk Ghee / Butter 1/2 cup

20 Water 1 liter

21 Ghee / sesame seeds Oil Deepams 2

22 Deep cotton wiks 10

23 Ghee / sesame seeds (Til) Oil for Deepams 100gm

24 Haarathi plate 1

25 Bell 1

26 Agarbathi 1 packet




F. Items list for “Sahasralingarchana”

Sahasra Lingarchana Puja items list Sri Rama Item Quantity

1 Complete Ganapathi Puja items list needed


3 Kumkuma 250gm

4 Siva Parvathi Ganapathi and Subrahmanya swami photo or Siva photo frame 1

5 Fruits 5 dozen

6 Flowers (never peel petals) 2 trays

7 Flower Garlands 5

8 Bilwa / Tulasi / Sabja dalams leaves 150


10 Supari Nuts / chips for Tamboolam 100gm

11 Tamboolam (2 Beetal leaves, 1 Beetal Nut, 1 money coin, 1 small fruit, 1 small flower) 60

12 Money Coins 60


14 Turmeric Akshatalu 4 cups

15 Dhavalakshatalu (Wet Rice) 2 cup


17 Puja plates for puja participants 20

18 Spoons for puja participants 20

19 Small water bottles for puja participants 50

20 Kalesa patra (Mara Chembu / Lota / Glass) silver / copper / bronze / steel 1




24 Cow Milk 1/2 cup

25 Cow Milk Curd / Yogurt 1/2 cup

26 Sugar 1/2 cup

27 Honey 100gm

28 Cow Milk Ghee / Butter 1/2 cup

29 Water 1 liter

30 Ghee / sesame seeds Oil Deepams 6

31 Deep cotton wiks 25

32 Ghee / sesame seeds (Til) Oil for Deepams 500gm

33 Konch Shell 1

34 Sambhrani Dhoop / Dhoop sticks 1 packet

35 Big Aluminium trays 2




36 Maha Nivedyam (1 plate food + 1 glass of water) 1

37 Empty baskets / boxes to collect fruits and flowers given by devotees 6

38 Water bottles for priests to drink when needed 2




G. Items list for “Ekadasavara Rudrabhishekam”

Rudra Abhishekam items list Sri Rama

Item and results Quantity

1 Sivalingam and Saligramam 1

2 Sesame Oil (Avoid accidents) 2 spoons

3 Cow Milk Ghee (Avoid accidents) 2 spoons

4 Cow milk (Good Health & Happiness) 1 cup

5 Yogurt / Curd (Wealth) 1 cup

6 Honey (Radiance) 1 cup

7 Sugar (Destruction of Sorrows) 1 cup

8 Sugarcane juice (Money) 1 cup

9 Grape juice (Success in daily activities) 1 cup

10 Dates juice (Destruction of enemies) 1 cup

11 Mango juice (Reduction of terminal disease) 1 cup

12 Coconut water 1 cup

13 Amla juice 1 cup

14 Ash/Vibhudi (Prosperity & removal of Sins) 1 cup

15 White rose flower water / Rose water (Real estate & wealth) 1 cup

16 Rudraksha water (Supreme wealth & Power) 1 cup

17 Sandal wood powder or paste water (Birth of Male Child) 1 cup

18 Ganga water 1 cup

19 Anna daanam at end to all. (Increased longevity, Comfortable life & Moksham)

20 Big Aluminium trays dozen

21 Estimated big size tumbler for collecting abhisheka teertham from trays 1

22 Empty card board boxes to put trays for puja 6

*count depends on how many sets of trays you are planning




H. Items list for “Rudra Homam”

Rudra Homam Puja items list Sri Rama Item Quantity


2 Kumkuma 50gm


4 Flowers (never peel petals) small plate

5 Fruits dozen


7 Nut powder 50gm

8 Money Coins 3

9 Turmeric Akshatalu 1 cup


11 Water 1 liter




15 Camphor chips 250gm

16 Dried coconut chips 250gm

17 Darbha / holi grass (150 strings needed) 1 packet

18 Peepal wood sticks / wood chips 5 lb

19 Rice flour 1 cup

20 Rice bag (Dhanya patra for Brahma) 1

21 Bilwa / Tulasi / Sabja dalams leaves 50

22 Cow milk Ghee hot 1 liter

23 Cooked rice 1 cup

24 Black Sesame seeds 100gm

25 Rice seedlings / Dhanyapu vadlu 100gm

26 Nava dhanyam 100gm

27 Havan Samagri 250gm

28 Srukku (Big havan spoon) 1

29 Sruvam (Small havan spoon) 1

30 Vaodhara (long wooden stick with a canal to pour Ghee) 1

31 Haarathi plate 1

32 Bell 1

33 Agarbathi 1

34 Copper vessals / bowls for pouring ghee, dhanyam, leaves etc. 6

35 Ghee Nivedyam 1 cup

36 Curd Rice Nivedyam 1 cup

37 Poornahuti Red silk cloth 0.5 square meter




38 Dried whole coconuts 1

39 Havan Samagri 100gm

40 Vatti veru (dried sacread roots and herbs) 100gm

41 Nava Dhanyam 50gm

42 Nava Ratna 1 packet

43 Sapta Dhatu 1 packet





I. SahasraLingarchana Puja Kalpam step by step guide

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/Documents/SahasraLingarchana_StepByStep.pdf

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/Documents/SahasraLingarchana_StepByStep.pdf




J. Abhishekam participants signup template document

Rudram Number

Siva Iingam Tray Number

Serial Number

Family Name Participants Count

Attended (Yes/No)

K. Members invitation list template document

SNo. Family Name

Email Address

Phone Adults Count

Kids Count

Participate in P: Puja

A: Abhishekam B: Both

Attended (Yes/No)

L. “Namashembhavecha” mantram




M. Lord Siva Photos

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/DownloadDocs.aspx





N. Invitation templates document




O. Souvenir template document


Sahasra Lingarchana 2013

With best compliments from

Chandra Sekhar Bodapati and family Thank you

Sahasra Lingarchana 2013

With best compliments from

Chandra Sekhar Bodapati and family Thank you





P. Event memories photos and videos DVD covers and labels template document


Q. Additional Resources: Photos, Scriptures and Guides


R. Radio Speech on Sahasra Lingarchana

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/Audio/SahasraLingarchanaOnRadio.mp3

http://www.shambhoshankara.com/DownloadDocs.aspxhttp://www.shambhoshankara.com/DownloadDocs.aspxhttp://www.shambhoshankara.com/Audio/SahasraLingarchanaOnRadio.mp3




S. Contact References

Chandra Sekhar Bodapati 1268 Tioga Drive Irving, TX – 75063

USA

[email protected] [email protected] Home Phone: 214-281-8840

SkypeID: kanyachandu www.shambhoshankara.com

Thank You
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.shambhoshankara.com/